‘Tribal-sensitive development needed in Naxal area`

Nagpur: A tribal-centric development, strengthening of political process and deployment of adequate security forces can wipe out Naxalism, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has said.

"There needs to be a three-pronged strategy to eliminate Naxalism...a sensitive development of tribal areas, deployment of adequate security forces and strengthening of political process," Ramesh said at Gadchiroli, 160 km from here, after a visit to the Naxal-affected district yesterday.

Existing policies had not benefited the tribals living in rural areas and forests, he said, adding that wherever the political process was strong, the Naxals were weak.

"India is a democratic country, and if Naxals wanted development, they should give up arms and join the mainstream," he said.

Ramesh also said that tribals would not be displaced from the forests, and the government had given them certain rights over forest land and produce, which was a landmark step.